Crawley 0-1 Mansfield: Beardsley secures Stags win

Mansfield moved into the Sky Bet League Two play-off places after Chris Beardsley scored the only goal in their 1-0 victory at Crawley.

Beardsley's superb second-half header gave the Stags back-to-back wins, while it sent Crawley to their third straight defeat.

Mansfield were reduced to 10 men in the 90th minute when Matt Green collected his second booking.

Mansfield started well and young goalkeeper Callum Preston came to Crawley's rescue by racing outside his area to save at the feet of the on-rushing Beardsley.

Top scorer Green should have put the Stags ahead following a defensive mistake by Lewis Young, but Preston saved with his foot after the striker got clean through.

Green was guilty of another bad miss on the half-hour mark when he shot wastefully wide after being put through by Matty Blair.

Former Crawley goalkeeper Scott Shearer comfortably saved two shots from outside the area by winger Gwion Edwards as the hosts struggled to exert themselves.

Mansfield, who went into the game a point outside the play-offs, deservedly broke the deadlock on the hour through striker Beardsley.

Fit-again full-back Mal Benning whipped in a fine corner and Beardsley struck with a flicked header at the near post for his first goal for the club.

The Stags almost increased their advantage when a curling shot from James Baxendale was superbly tipped over by the impressive Preston.